Four Indians wounded in new border clashes

SRINAGAR (Reuters) – Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged fire in the disputed Kashmir region and four Indian civilians were wounded, a day after the highest civilian death toll in a single day from their cross-border conflict in more than a decade.

The mostly Muslim Himalayan region of Kashmir is claimed by both India and Pakistan and has been a major focus of tension in South Asia. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two wars over the territory and there have been regular clashes along their de facto border, known as the Line of Control.

Pakistan forces fired at 40 Indian army posts early on Tuesday, said Uttam Chand, a police official. Indian forces retaliated with gunfire and mortar bombs, he said.

“The intensity of firing has been very low compared to the previous night,” Chand said.

Five Indian civilians and four Pakistani civilians were killed and dozens were injured by shelling on Monday. It was the highest death toll among non-military personnel in a single day in the region since 2003, police said.